Sunderland

Sunderland's population decreased by about 5,300 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population decreased

In the decade to 2011, the population of Sunderland fell by 1.9%, from just under 281,000 to 276,000.

The loss of about 5,000 people means this area's population was the third-most rapidly-declining in the North East and, while the population of England increased by 7.9%.

In 2011, Sunderland was home to, on average, 14 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Sunderland

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Sunderland increased by four years, from 37 to 41 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than the North East and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,400 people aged 80 years or over, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 9,000.

About 8.0% of people in Sunderland are aged over the age of 80 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Sunderland by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Sunderland

Sunderland saw the North East's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just over 1 in 19 (5.3%) in Sunderland reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 4.5% in 2001. The percentage who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.8% to 6.5%.

Across the region, only South Tyneside saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 4.2% to 5.0%).

During this period, Sunderland overtook Hartlepool and Middlesbrough to become the North East local authority area with the highest percentage of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Fall in social renting

The percentage of Sunderland households that rented through social housing schemes decreased from 33.4% to 27.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12.2%) households rented privately, compared with 5.4% in 2001. The percentage of Sunderland households that owned their home remained close to 59.8%.

The proportion of socially rented homes decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the North East. As a result, Sunderland became more healthy than the regional average 23.0% in the North East described their health as good in 2011).

The rate of social housing in Sunderland decreased by 6.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Sunderland, the North East and England that rented socially, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The proportion of married people fell in Sunderland, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the North East, except Hartlepool.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 50.8% to 45.8%.

During this period, Sunderland fell below Hartlepool to become the North East local authority area with the sixth-lowest percentage of married people.

The proportion of married people was lower than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer homes with children

Sunderland saw the North East's largest fall in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28.1%) households in Sunderland had at least one dependent child, compared with 31.3% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 56.3% to 59.4%.

Across the region, Redcar and Cleveland saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of households with children (from 31.0% in 2001 to 28.2% in 2011).

Every local authority area across the North East saw a fall in the proportion of households with children, as the regional average fell from 29.8% to 27.9%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the North East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Sunderland saw the North East's joint largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, alongside South Tyneside.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.5%) in Sunderland reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 3.0% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.6% to 1.9%.

During this period, Sunderland overtook Hartlepool and Middlesbrough to become the North East local authority area with the highest percentage of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Sunderland remained close to 3.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Sunderland by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Sunderland working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 8.9% to 7.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.5% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 10.6% in 2001 to 8.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Sunderland decreased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Sunderland, the North East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple increased in Sunderland, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the North East, except Redcar and Cleveland and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple, as the regional average grew from 7.8% to 10.0%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the North East

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Sunderland

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Sunderland was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.3 points.

In 2011, 21.9% of respondents in Sunderland gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 9.6% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the North East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.0% to 23.4%, while across England the percentage went from 14.5% to 24.6%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Sunderland, 70.3% said they were Christian, compared with 81.5% in 2001. About 0.3% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.2% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 7.6% to 5.6%.

In Sunderland, 5.6% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.6% in 2001. In North East, 6.1% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

the population without a religion in Sunderland increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North East and Sunderland by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Sunderland residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 12.9% to 8.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (75.5%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 63.9% in 2001. The percentage of Sunderland residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23.2% to 16.0%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 12.0% in 2001 to 7.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Sunderland decreased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Sunderland, the North East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Sunderland

In 2011, 2.7% of Sunderland residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 1.2% in 2001.

Across the North East, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 1.6% to 2.9%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 95.9% of people in Sunderland said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 98.1% in 2001. About 0.7% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.4% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.1% to 0.5%.

the population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Sunderland increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Sunderland by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Sunderland residents that were self-employed increased from 4.3% to 5.6% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (51.1%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 49.1% in 2001. The percentage of Sunderland residents that were unemployed increased from 4.8% to 5.9%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 5.3% in 2001 to 6.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Sunderland increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Sunderland, the North East and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

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